A Special Circle of Hell Awaits

[Tennesseer]

A good read.

A Special Circle of Hell Awaits
By taking a wrecking ball to independent oversight, Trump has made the presidency into a dictatorship. At this point, writes Robert Edwards, the only recourse we will have left to save our democracy, repair the institutions of government, and restore accountability to the American people, is to vote in November to save "the soul of this nation."

This past week in The New York Times, the columnist Frank Bruni wrote:

When the direness of this global health crisis began to be apparent, I was braced for the falsehoods and misinformation that are Trump’s trademarks. I was girded for the incompetence that defines an administration with such contempt for proper procedure and for true expertise. But what has taken me by surprise and torn me up inside are the aloofness, arrogance, pettiness, meanness, narcissism and solipsism that persist in Trump—that flourish in him—even during a once-in-a-lifetime emergency that demands something nobler.

Under normal circumstances, these traits are galling. Under the current ones, they’re gutting.

He’s quite right of course. Except for the part about being surprised.

Did anyone really think Trump would rise to the occasion of this crisis? Far from drawing forth some latent leadership ability that lay dormant for 73 years (or even an iota of previously undetected humanity), the sheer extremity of the crisis has brought out the worst in him, which is really saying something.

For even with our Marianas Trench-low expectations, Trump’s behavior has been jawdroppingly appalling.

We all know the litany of absolutely unconscionable things our Dear Leader has done to make this pandemic worse than it had to be — what the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent called “one of the most monumental and destructive leadership failures in modern times”:

His ignorant refusal to heed all the many, dire warnings of the coming catastrophe.

His lies about how we had the virus “controlled,”about how one day it would just miraculously disappear, about the availability of testing.

Complete article here:  A Special Circle of Hell Awaits

[deminmaine]

Well, here is is back in 2016, in Henderson, Nevada:

[Deleted]

Trump is a malignant narcissist and thus acts like one.

People keep expecting him to change or improve how he behaves. He's 1000% unable to and doesn't have any insight into his "problem". To himself, he's perfect and in no need of change.

He should be removed via Article 25 and I have been saying that since he was elected. We should also require future presidential candidates to pass both a physical and mental examination.

Anyone who's had a close relationship with someone with NPD can clearly see how this goes and why he behaves the way he does. It's very, very predictable.

At this point, the best thing the press and others can do is to keep on his heels and harassing the crap out of him - because it makes him lose his shit and shows everyone who he really is.

[swamp]

the guys is 73 years old.  Why would he change now?  

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Trump is disgusting but the people at his love rally's make me sick. 

[djAdvocate]

as I said before.....

before this crisis, I was willing to hold out hope that Trump might not be the worst president in American history- that I was not bearing witness to a historic occasion that I would not willingly choose to live through. but that hope is over.

he is the fucking worst.

El Peor.

[swamp]

Apr 20, 2020 10:33:01 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Trump is disgusting but the people at his love rally's make me sick. 

I completely understand why someone would have voted for him in 2016.    They were sick of the "same old same old" from washington insiders, Hilary really isn't that likeable and came with a lot of baggage. 

If you still think he's great, you're either dumb or not paying attention.  

[justme]

I think they just live in their own reality where everything they think is real.


I mean, how else can you explain several trump supporters protesting the stay at home orders with "my body my choice" signs? The amount of delusion that takes is mind blowing and I think beyond just stupid. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Apr 20, 2020 11:04:41 GMT -5 swamp said:

Apr 20, 2020 10:33:01 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Trump is disgusting but the people at his love rally's make me sick. 

I completely understand why someone would have voted for him in 2016.    They were sick of the "same old same old" from washington insiders, Hilary really isn't that likeable and came with a lot of baggage. 

If you still think he's great, you're either dumb or not paying attention.  

Or you are so insecure that you will cut off your nose to spite your face in order to maintain white male privilege.   He can't do anything wrong because if we admit he does something wrong then white people (and old white men in particular) may have to look at themselves in the mirror.

[djAdvocate]

Apr 20, 2020 11:04:41 GMT -5 swamp said:

Apr 20, 2020 10:33:01 GMT -5 ken a.k.a OMK said:

Trump is disgusting but the people at his love rally's make me sick. 

I completely understand why someone would have voted for him in 2016.    They were sick of the "same old same old" from washington insiders, Hilary really isn't that likeable and came with a lot of baggage. 

If you still think he's great, you're either dumb or not paying attention.  

there is a third possibility- that they are just as hateful, mean, spiteful, and thoughtless as he is.

I refused to believe that was possible until sometime last year.

[Gardening Grandma]

Apr 20, 2020 11:13:32 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Apr 20, 2020 11:04:41 GMT -5 swamp said:

I completely understand why someone would have voted for him in 2016.    They were sick of the "same old same old" from washington insiders, Hilary really isn't that likeable and came with a lot of baggage. 

If you still think he's great, you're either dumb or not paying attention.  

there is a third possibility- that they are just as hateful, mean, spiteful, and thoughtless as he is.

I refused to believe that was possible until sometime last year.

I used to think they were mostly ignorant and racist (some of my relatives who are very religious and think he is God's tool).  But now I believe they are simply hate filled.  They would cut off their own nose if they thought it would offend a Democrat or "liberal".

[tbop77]

Apr 20, 2020 11:13:32 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Apr 20, 2020 11:04:41 GMT -5 swamp said:

I completely understand why someone would have voted for him in 2016.    They were sick of the "same old same old" from washington insiders, Hilary really isn't that likeable and came with a lot of baggage. 

If you still think he's great, you're either dumb or not paying attention.  

there is a third possibility- that they are just as hateful, mean, spiteful, and thoughtless as he is.

I refused to believe that was possible until sometime last year.

It took me a while to realize how deep the hate was for President Obama....

[swamp]

Apr 20, 2020 11:22:00 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Apr 20, 2020 11:13:32 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

there is a third possibility- that they are just as hateful, mean, spiteful, and thoughtless as he is.

I refused to believe that was possible until sometime last year.

I used to think they were mostly ignorant and racist (some of my relatives who are very religious and think he is God's tool).  But now I believe they are simply hate filled.  They would cut off their own nose if they thought it would offend a Democrat or "liberal".

I'll agree that he is a tool...................

[mollyanna58]

Apr 20, 2020 10:51:20 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

as I said before.....

before this crisis, I was willing to hold out hope that Trump might not be the worst president in American history- that I was not bearing witness to a historic occasion that I would not willingly choose to live through. but that hope is over.

he is the fucking worst.

El Peor.

Every President's Day, various places publish historians' ranking for the presidents.  I am looking forward to his unhinged tweets, once he is out of office, to his being ranked as the worst.

[Tennesseer]

The last few paragraphs from the linked article in the opening post:

ONE WAY TICKET ACROSS THE STYX

Let’s be clear: We are watching the criminal destruction of our republic by a sociopathic game show host-c*m-con man, under the cover of a crisis he helped bring about. Donald Trump and the Republican Party are exploiting the pandemic as an excuse for a further neo-fascist power grab and a permanent end to fair elections in favor of one-party rule.

As recently as a month ago the conservative pundit and historian Max Boot wrote that Trump is “the worst president in modern times — not of all time.” But he has now revised his estimate:

That left open the possibility that James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, Warren Harding or some other nonentity would be judged more harshly. But in the past month, we have seen enough to take away the qualifier “in modern times.” With his catastrophic mishandling of the coronavirus, Trump has established himself as the worst president in US history.

His one major competitor for that dubious distinction remains Buchanan, whose dithering helped lead us into the Civil War — the deadliest conflict in US history. Buchanan may still be the biggest loser. But there is good reason to think that the Civil War would have broken out no matter what. By contrast, there is nothing inevitable about the scale of the disaster we now confront.

Whatever happens in November, Trump cannot escape the pitiless judgment of history.

Somewhere, a relieved James Buchanan must be smiling.

And so is Satan, as he and his chambermaids get Donald’s room ready for him.

[djAdvocate]

Apr 20, 2020 12:24:44 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

Apr 20, 2020 10:51:20 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

as I said before.....

before this crisis, I was willing to hold out hope that Trump might not be the worst president in American history- that I was not bearing witness to a historic occasion that I would not willingly choose to live through. but that hope is over.

he is the fucking worst.

El Peor.

Every President's Day, various places publish historians' ranking for the presidents.  I am looking forward to his unhinged tweets, once he is out of office, to his being ranked as the worst.

he is already there with some historians.  it is hard to imagine his handling of the Covid outbreak will improve his standing.

[djAdvocate]

Apr 20, 2020 12:31:46 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

The last few paragraphs from the linked article in the opening post:

ONE WAY TICKET ACROSS THE STYX

Let’s be clear: We are watching the criminal destruction of our republic by a sociopathic game show host-c*m-con man, under the cover of a crisis he helped bring about. Donald Trump and the Republican Party are exploiting the pandemic as an excuse for a further neo-fascist power grab and a permanent end to fair elections in favor of one-party rule.

As recently as a month ago the conservative pundit and historian Max Boot wrote that Trump is “the worst president in modern times — not of all time.” But he has now revised his estimate:

That left open the possibility that James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, Warren Harding or some other nonentity would be judged more harshly. But in the past month, we have seen enough to take away the qualifier “in modern times.” With his catastrophic mishandling of the coronavirus, Trump has established himself as the worst president in US history.

His one major competitor for that dubious distinction remains Buchanan, whose dithering helped lead us into the Civil War — the deadliest conflict in US history. Buchanan may still be the biggest loser. But there is good reason to think that the Civil War would have broken out no matter what. By contrast, there is nothing inevitable about the scale of the disaster we now confront.

Whatever happens in November, Trump cannot escape the pitiless judgment of history.

Somewhere, a relieved James Buchanan must be smiling.

And so is Satan, as he and his chambermaids get Donald’s room ready for him.

I feel the cold comfort in the company of Max Boot.

[thyme4change]

Fear of change is powerful.

Too bad, because things change. Like it or not.

[dezii]

Apr 20, 2020 11:08:40 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Apr 20, 2020 11:04:41 GMT -5 swamp said:

I completely understand why someone would have voted for him in 2016.    They were sick of the "same old same old" from washington insiders, Hilary really isn't that likeable and came with a lot of baggage. 

If you still think he's great, you're either dumb or not paying attention.  

Or you are so insecure that you will cut off your nose to spite your face in order to maintain white male privilege.   He can't do anything wrong because if we admit he does something wrong then white people (and old white men in particular) may have to look at themselves in the mirror.

This old..in low 80's...person has never been a fan , to say the least, though never one to call for his early removal.

I believe or believed, the only way to remove a POTUS is to vote him out...though I have changed my mind on that though only after experiencing this particular cluster fuck..{the Donald and friends};..so don't put all white men in that group please , not so at all.

[Gardening Grandma]

Apr 20, 2020 11:57:21 GMT -5 tbop77 said:

Apr 20, 2020 11:13:32 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

there is a third possibility- that they are just as hateful, mean, spiteful, and thoughtless as he is.

I refused to believe that was possible until sometime last year.

It took me a while to realize how deep the hate was for President Obama....

Yeah, even posters here talk about how much they "suffered" under Pres Obama....

[djAdvocate]

Apr 20, 2020 13:49:07 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Apr 20, 2020 11:57:21 GMT -5 tbop77 said:

It took me a while to realize how deep the hate was for President Obama....

Yeah, even posters here talk about how much they "suffered" under Pres Obama....

speaking personally, I went from nowhere to the top 10% under Clinton, and from 10% to 5% under Obama.

my standing did not improve under Bush 42 or Trump.

and I know for a fact it did not improve in the bottom 50%, either.

so, I am trying to figure out what people are complaining about, still.

[steff]

www.huffpost.com/entry/fox-news-video-trump-disaster-maga_n_5c4a41d4e4b0287e5b893788

Trump’s call-in on a 2014 “Fox & Friends” episode, which was posted Thursday by Raw Story, appears to reveal his willingness to tolerate almost any disaster to get what he wants.

His return-to-greatness vision came as he and the Fox panel blasted Obamacare as a freebie for those who “don’t want to work.” Obamacare isn’t free, and recipients pay premiums.

“You know what solves it?” Trump asked, referring to Obamacare. “When the economy crashes, when the country goes to total hell and everything is a disaster — then you’ll have riots to go back to where we used to be when we were great.”

Cruelty & death  IS THE POINT

[djAdvocate]

Apr 20, 2020 14:42:36 GMT -5 steff said:

www.huffpost.com/entry/fox-news-video-trump-disaster-maga_n_5c4a41d4e4b0287e5b893788

Trump’s call-in on a 2014 “Fox & Friends” episode, which was posted Thursday by Raw Story, appears to reveal his willingness to tolerate almost any disaster to get what he wants.

His return-to-greatness vision came as he and the Fox panel blasted Obamacare as a freebie for those who “don’t want to work.” Obamacare isn’t free, and recipients pay premiums.

“You know what solves it?” Trump asked, referring to Obamacare. “When the economy crashes, when the country goes to total hell and everything is a disaster — then you’ll have riots to go back to where we used to be when we were great.”

Cruelty & death  IS THE POINT

guessing nobody asked him "when were we great?"

the GREAT depression, maybe?

what a fucking monster.

[laterbloomer]

Apr 20, 2020 10:51:20 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

as I said before.....

before this crisis, I was willing to hold out hope that Trump might not be the worst president in American history- that I was not bearing witness to a historic occasion that I would not willingly choose to live through. but that hope is over.

he is the fucking worst.

El Peor.

And he's paving the way for even worse.

[thyme4change]

Apr 20, 2020 14:09:31 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Apr 20, 2020 13:49:07 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Yeah, even posters here talk about how much they "suffered" under Pres Obama....

speaking personally, I went from nowhere to the top 10% under Clinton, and from 10% to 5% under Obama.

my standing did not improve under Bush 42 or Trump.

and I know for a fact it did not improve in the bottom 50%, either.

so, I am trying to figure out what people are complaining about, still.

I went from somewhere in the middle to the top 10% under Obama. A fairly rich guy asked me how I could be happy with him as President, and I said 'I have money now.' He looked at me like I grew an extra head. I don't know why his investments were doing so badly. But I strongly suspect they weren't doing bad at all, because he is a racist dick.

[djAdvocate]

Apr 20, 2020 15:33:06 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Apr 20, 2020 14:09:31 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

speaking personally, I went from nowhere to the top 10% under Clinton, and from 10% to 5% under Obama.

my standing did not improve under Bush 42 or Trump.

and I know for a fact it did not improve in the bottom 50%, either.

so, I am trying to figure out what people are complaining about, still.

I went from somewhere in the middle to the top 10% under Obama. A fairly rich guy asked me how I could be happy with him as President, and I said 'I have money now.' He looked at me like I grew an extra head. I don't know why his investments were doing so badly. But I strongly suspect they weren't doing bad at all, because he is a racist dick.

and there you have it.

never give the black guy ANY credit.

that's the game.

I just can't figure out why.

he governed like every other white Democrat. better than most. worse than some.

[NastyWoman]

Apr 20, 2020 12:31:46 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

The last few paragraphs from the linked article in the opening post:

ONE WAY TICKET ACROSS THE STYX

Let’s be clear: We are watching the criminal destruction of our republic by a sociopathic game show host-c*m-con man, under the cover of a crisis he helped bring about. Donald Trump and the Republican Party are exploiting the pandemic as an excuse for a further neo-fascist power grab and a permanent end to fair elections in favor of one-party rule.

As recently as a month ago the conservative pundit and historian Max Boot wrote that Trump is “the worst president in modern times — not of all time.” But he has now revised his estimate:

That left open the possibility that James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, Warren Harding or some other nonentity would be judged more harshly. But in the past month, we have seen enough to take away the qualifier “in modern times.” With his catastrophic mishandling of the coronavirus, Trump has established himself as the worst president in US history.

His one major competitor for that dubious distinction remains Buchanan, whose dithering helped lead us into the Civil War — the deadliest conflict in US history. Buchanan may still be the biggest loser. But there is good reason to think that the Civil War would have broken out no matter what. By contrast, there is nothing inevitable about the scale of the disaster we now confront.

Whatever happens in November, Trump cannot escape the pitiless judgment of history.

Somewhere, a relieved James Buchanan must be smiling.

And so is Satan, as he and his chambermaids chamber pots  get Donald’s room ready for him.

fixed as I don't believe there will be any women appointed in hell to serve the man on the golden throne (which he also will no longer be allowed to use, hence the pots)

[thyme4change]

Apr 20, 2020 15:36:00 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Apr 20, 2020 15:33:06 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I went from somewhere in the middle to the top 10% under Obama. A fairly rich guy asked me how I could be happy with him as President, and I said 'I have money now.' He looked at me like I grew an extra head. I don't know why his investments were doing so badly. But I strongly suspect they weren't doing bad at all, because he is a racist dick.

and there you have it.

never give the black guy ANY credit.

that's the game.

I just can't figure out why.

he governed like every other white Democrat. better than most. worse than some.

He later asked my husband why my husband didn't feel the need to "take care of his people". My husband said "his people" already had all the money, and could take care of themselves. There isn't much clearer way of saying that all this guy wanted was to protect white people from becoming equal to everyone else.

[happyhoix]

Apr 20, 2020 11:22:00 GMT -5 Gardening Grandma said:

Apr 20, 2020 11:13:32 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

there is a third possibility- that they are just as hateful, mean, spiteful, and thoughtless as he is.

I refused to believe that was possible until sometime last year.

I used to think they were mostly ignorant and racist (some of my relatives who are very religious and think he is God's tool).  But now I believe they are simply hate filled.  They would cut off their own nose if they thought it would offend a Democrat or "liberal".

I hate to admit it but my very lovely SIL, who is otherwise a kind person, may be one of those people who are hateful to anyone who is not her color, her religion or from her neck of the woods. 

She said she hoped all the New Yorkers went to hell. That's messed up. 

[Bob Ross]

I've posted before that my parents, despite being decent people, are die-hard Trump supporters, mainly due to their steady diet of Fox News.

I'm happy to say that my mother has seemingly come around.  She's a retired RN, and Trump's COVID antics and daily press conference ravings have really opened her eyes and turned her off to the disgusting nature of the man (and why do I suddenly feel strange referring to Trump as a man?).

My dad, however, is pretty unbreakable and he will go down with the ship.  I think that subconsciously he finds a kindred spirit in Trump, in that my dad A) never admits he's wrong, and B) always find ways to blame others for his failings, so he was ripe for Trump's propaganda machine from the get-go, and there's likely some sort of projecting going on there.  It's sad because he's a really smart guy who probably has to mentally struggle to maintain his support for a total asshat.